I need advise on how to save eggplant seeds. Separating them from the flesh drying them etc..
Thanks
Saving Eggplant seeds
The only important part is making sure that the fruit is ripe ( seeds fully matured). Other than that just use your ingenuity to find the best way to remove the seeds. I like to spread this type of seeds on a paper towel or equivalent with good air movement around it for a couple of weeks before packaging and storing.
Thank you, What is a good way to remove the seeds? When I cut the fruit in 1/2 I also cut a bunch of seeds. I did make sure the fruit was fully ripe I think. I'll do a germination test before I store them. Peppers are so much easier! I may actually try tomato seeds too. That is really living on the edge for me.
It is not easy. Fortunately you will not need a great amount of seed unless you are selling or trading. Just pick them out with point of a small knife. here is a blurb from an Indian source: "Seed Extraction and Drying The harvested fruits are stored for three to four days until they become soft. This allows the seed to mature fully. One third of fruit from upper part where contains almost no seed is cut off. Then seeds are extracted by cutting, crushing or macerating with a mechanical extractor in large scale seed production. After extraction, seeds are washed and cleaned with extra water in a container. Some seed extractors are also capable of separating the seed from the pulp through a screen. Dry extraction of eggplant seed is used by very small-scale seed growers, however, it is time consuming and laborious. Seed drying is done by spreading the wet seeds either in the sun or in an electric dehydrator. Stir the seed with hands at least 2-3 times a day, turning them over to dry uniformly. Seeds that stick together should be disaggregated. The seeds should be completely dry to about 8% moisture content. "
Maybe I'll just buy more.
Just curious, didja decide to buy more or go ahead and try saving your seeds, Lisa?
Shoe
Hey, Shoe I saved some and I'm doing the paper towel germination test thing now. I'll probably buy more too but different cultivators. I sell a lot of the Thai varieties so I may try some different types. I thought I would have a lot more free time this fall but I still have my summer garden going and my kids' Basketball schedule is going to kill me I don't even like basketball, and I have a bad case of bleacher butt! LOL I am so proud of them tho.
Great! I sell more Oriental types than others also, usually Ichiban, Ping-something, and this past year a few from Johnny's which I can't remember right now. There was also a green eggplant I grew last year but the name doesn't come to mind right now, Raveena maybe.
Basketball...I like the season's finales but can't watch the games leading up to it, which is terrible cus in my state (NC) we are the basketball capitol of the world (Duke, Carolina, etc!)
Thanks for checking back in.
shoe